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Changes in China could bring curbside recycling to an end in Kirkwood

If Kirkwood can't strike a new deal it will end curbside service on Oct. 22.

KIRKWOOD, Mo. — The City of Kirkwood is trying to save its curbside recycling program. The city's public services director Bill Bensing said the current program will end in October if Kirkwood can't ink a new deal with a new company.

Kirkwood was notified by Resource Management that it will no longer accept the city's recyclables come Nov. 1. Bensing said the changes are because of what's happening outside the country.

He said China is no longer accepting recyclables due to high contamination levels. That decision is driving up prices. Bensing said the city was getting paid $15 a ton when it would drop-off recyclables to Resource Management. Bensing said now the company wants to charge the city $35 a ton for recyclables.

The city is talking to another provider in hopes of saving the curbside program. Bensing said he hopes to hear from the company by early September.

If Kirkwood can't reach an agreement, Bensing said the city will expand recycling operations at the Francis Scheidegger Recycling Depository. It's where residents took their recyclables before curbside service started in 2011.

Kirkwood owns and operates its own trash and recycling programs. Bensing said other cities that do the same will likely face a similar situation.

O'Fallon, Missouri, has a meeting on Thursday to discuss the soaring prices of recycling.

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